Last Post 12 Aug 2016 02:30 PM by  Myrton Woolen
Prospecting equipment?
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Mary McCarty
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28 Jun 2016 01:35 PM

    So, I have a pair of Garret pans, (14" and 10") Classifyers at 1/4", 1/8", 1/16" and a screen colander. I had a 1/2" one but I left it back in Texas. Might have to have sis' mail it to me. Also have a good heavy rock hammer/pick, a set of 3 heavy cold chisels, a set of 10 smaller masonry chisels and punches, a gold snuffer bottle, a few plastic pasture pipettes I scored from an essential oil seller (these are really nice for picking up the fine gold out of the pan and transferring it directly into a vial), a magnifying glass, LED lighted loupe, fine tweezers, regular tweezers, a few plastic and glass vials, a heavy garden hand rake, hand shovel as well as a long, thin garden tool for working crevices, a canvas tool bag and backpack to put it all in, a 3 gallon bucket and a folding 2 gallon bucket, and for home use, a broad livestock water pan for home panning that is approx. 24" wide by 12" deep and a Miller Table.

    Other than a good pair of work gloves (which will be purchased) and a set of Neoprene boots and possibly a farmer john style wetsuit in place of rubber boots/waders, is there anything else indespensable for hobby prospecting? A small sluice may also be purchased later. The rock pick and chisels will be handy for Rock hounding as well.

    Ed Bragg
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    28 Jun 2016 04:08 PM
    I don't go anywhere without my Garret Super Sluice .. But it seems you have it pretty covered there. If your mainly planning to backpack and explore rivers, you might consider a nice small sluice. I'd recommend one of the 3:

    EzSluice
    Angus MacKirk Sluice
    Bazooka Style Sluice

    Check around some of the facebook prospector trading groups, and there are also other online forums that have classifieds, as well as here for used mini sluices.

    Mary McCarty
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    28 Jun 2016 06:26 PM
    Thanks Ed. I've been carefully reading the threads concerning sluices and am seriously considering the smaller Bazooka. It's so... elegant in it's simplicity. Easy to use and empty out. It just makes sense. Those that are using them seem very satisfied and their cost, even for a new one, appears to be affordable.
    William Hall
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    28 Jun 2016 07:35 PM
    If you are considering a sluice, keep it small, at least to start with
    I use a 10"w X 36" with a gold hog style matting, threw away the carpeting and miners moss years ago
    Yes it's small, depending on where you are prospecting, it's much easier to get into a creek, doesn't require a lot of water
    My partners have larger sluices but want to use mine for ease of use
    As the summer continues, water levels dwindle making sluicing difficult
    Yes larger sluices are sexy and look macho but that's not what counts

    Bill
    Benjamin Crain
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    28 Jun 2016 09:01 PM
    Yes you need something else, even though a lot of the rest above is not necessary, go to your local hardware store and get some knee pads, that also cover your shins. Don't get the namby pamby soft ones that they sell at sporting good stores, but the kind that fit like hockey pads. They should be hard plastic and attach above and below the knee and extend almost all the way down to your ankles. If you are working a river you are going to be on your knees a lot and on really hard rocks. These are not a necessity but will make your dig so much more pleasant.

    If you decide chest waders make sure you get gloves that go up above your elbow, and then take the finger tips and dip them in Plasti dip, it prevents the gloves from wearing out on the rocks.

    Anybody can go out and pan and tuff it out, it's the small things we learn that make it easier that really help.
    Mary McCarty
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    29 Jun 2016 05:31 AM
    Posted By WILLIAM HALL on 28 Jun 2016 07:35 PM

    If you are considering a sluice, keep it small, at least to start with

    I use a 10"w X 36" with a gold hog style matting, threw away the carpeting and miners moss years ago

    Yes it's small, depending on where you are prospecting, it's much easier to get into a creek, doesn't require a lot of water

    My partners have larger sluices but want to use mine for ease of use

    As the summer continues, water levels dwindle making sluicing difficult

    Yes larger sluices are sexy and look macho but that's not what counts



    Bill

    Thanks Bill.

    Been thinking about sluices and am seriously considering the Bazooka. But what I really wish is that someone would create a roll-up sluice made out of Silicone. It'd be tough and simple to create and use.  I got the idea for that when I saw a collapsible teakettle for camping. The top and bottom were metal with plastic fittings for the top and the body was pleated Silicone. A sluice made from that material would bounce into shape and could be rolled up. The top and bottom edges could be metal for increased rigidity. Anyone here want to invent that? I get a percentage for the idea!



    Mary McCarty
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    29 Jun 2016 05:35 AM
    Posted By Benjamin Crain on 28 Jun 2016 09:01 PM

    Yes you need something else, even though a lot of the rest above is not necessary, go to your local hardware store and get some knee pads, that also cover your shins. Don't get the namby pamby soft ones that they sell at sporting good stores, but the kind that fit like hockey pads. They should be hard plastic and attach above and below the knee and extend almost all the way down to your ankles. If you are working a river you are going to be on your knees a lot and on really hard rocks. These are not a necessity but will make your dig so much more pleasant.



    If you decide chest waders make sure you get gloves that go up above your elbow, and then take the finger tips and dip them in Plasti dip, it prevents the gloves from wearing out on the rocks.



    Anybody can go out and pan and tuff it out, it's the small things we learn that make it easier that really help.
    Great tips Benjamin!  For gloves, I was considering diving gloves. Knee pads are also an excellent idea and I noted when reviewing rock hounding in Nevada, their "for fee" opal mining suggested either those or a pad to kneel on. In running water, strap on knee pads would be necessary. Considering the Osteoarthritis I have issues with, any comfort tips are appreciated!  The Chisels are going in the mining kit more for rock hounding than gold panning, altho' the larger one would be handy for opening up rock crevices.



    William Hall
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    29 Jun 2016 04:11 PM
    Dipping the fingertips is a great tip, especially for dive gloves, as stated the rocks will tear them up in just a few hours, same on wet suit knee pads, you paint it on
    or use wet suit glue
    Use glue on wet suit seems, helps keep the stitching from damage, used to do it every year
    We did this in our dredging days

    Truth is Mary, what works for me and my operation my not work for you and your operation
    I work in small to medium creeks and small rivers, always wet unless I find something in high bench material, but rarely do I look for that
    Use a small sluice box, hand dredges, hand tools, sieves, 2 1/2gal buckets
    I/we don't fill our buckets full, as my partners call em billy buckets
    When your my age, ya gotta pace yourself or your worthless the next day
    Tried knee pads, a yard pad, but if ya don't tie them down they are gone down stream, I don't spend much time on my knees but again I work wet
    Keep your mining kit fluid, meaning, it can and will change to the mining conditions you encounter
    I use a large back pack that holds the sluice box, pans, sieves, hand tools, view tube, water/beers, sometimes my "little friend" if I'm in a populated area and not wearing him
    If I'm hiking a distance, I'll tie my buckets on it

    Trial and error, you'll figure out what works for you over time

    Your idea of a "roll up sluice" has merit and potential, pursue that idea
    With todays injection molding and silicone rubber, very possible
    You keep the royalties

    Bill
    Mary McCarty
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    30 Jun 2016 05:43 AM
    Posted By WILLIAM HALL on 29 Jun 2016 04:11 PM

      

    Trial and error, you'll figure out what works for you over time



    Your idea of a "roll up sluice" has merit and potential, pursue that idea

    With todays injection molding and silicone rubber, very possible

    You keep the royalties



    Bill

    I figure that my equipment will build and/or change over time with experience for sure.  Thanks Bill. Will have to check amazon for that plastic dip too, and that will be double handy for treating my Jewelry making tools so they don't dent the wire or charms when I'm making a piece. I think strap on knee padding would be the most practical, altho' I'm more likely to use a bucket for a chair. Hard to get on your knees with bad knees. Osteoarthritis and torn Meniscus'.

    As for the roll up silicone rubber sluice, I think you and others can easily visualize what I have in mind and providing someone else does not run off with the idea, who would I go to/where to see that idea to fruition? Not sure I have the investment capitol tho' to run with it at this time? It would more or less be a riffled mat with high sides. I have silicone ice cube trays and that material is very durable.

    On another note as to what one can use their gold for, India makes beads made from Camel and Water Buffalo bone. Aged properly with coffee or tea, that bone makes a lovely Ivory substitute. I got 6 nice small nuggets from commercial Paydirt (Yuba River) so can epoxy those to bone beads for making pendants. Eskimo style jewelry does that a lot.

    Thanks!

    Mary



    Myrton Woolen
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:6



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    12 Aug 2016 02:30 PM

    okay good people

    looking for some ideas here in Hillsboro n.mexico id like to find a sprirl wheel for ;lost gold in greyback here

     

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